Thread: Apple Carplay
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      02-11-2019, 01:25 PM   #21
MJE60
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Drives: BMW G01 xDrive M Sport
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Originally Posted by o_m_r View Post
Some are asking or thinking CarPlay is strictly a software upgrade. That might be true if BMW has coding to enable CarPlay using only an USB connection, which is one of two ways CarPlay can be used. But it looks like the way BMW implements CarPlay requires the head unit to be able connect wirelessly, and so in that case your car needs to have a wifi antenna. CarPlay can be used via USB, or wirelessly over wifi, but not exclusively bluetooth. Bluetooth might be used in the process of setting up your phone and car to use CarPlay wirelessly, but using the service requires a wifi connection. Whichever configuration of navigation system you have installed, it appears the only way it could be compatible is if it includes a wifi antenna, or the head unit is capable of having a wifi antenna somehow retrofitted


There's also suggestion that the head unit, in addition to the wifi antenna, but otherwise regardless, requires a certain tier of computer installed (ID5 or ID6 or newer/higher)... suggesting BMW does not have any coding that would allow CarPlay on an older/lower tier head unit/computer:
https://www.bimmer-tech.net/blog/ite...trofit-carplay
Extremely useful outline of key issues for NBTevo head units and CarPlay, unfortunately not sure if all of it it is applicable to the F48.

There is a lot of conflicting information out there. This is perhaps not helped by the fact that some people (like me) are using Carly or Bimmercode coding tools which are displaying HU_NBT for the head unit/ecu in the F48 when what it is apparently reading is HU_ENTRYNAV.

All* F48’ regardless whether ordered with Nav or Nav plus have an ENTRYNAV/ENTRYNAV2 headunit so FSC coding CarPlay which can be done on NBTevo head units will not work.

For the “ cheaper” ENTRYNAV system, which is a business based system, found in the X1(F48) & X2, the bottom line is FSC codes cannot be generated to activate Carplay nor can anyone outside BMW mess with the OTA (Over The Air provisioning) to make it work. This confusion is exacerbated by the fact that the F48 HU have same HU and software for nav and Nav plus , unlike BMW professional nav in more expensive models.

The technical specs imply that all F48 HU can support CarPlay subject to antenna being installed however If the extra software (6CP option) for CarPlay was not built-in to your F48 at the factory then it cannot be activated. Fitting a WiFI antenna will not sort the problem. BMW are moving to a subscription based service for CarPlay anyway. To complicate further “it appears” BMW will provide CarPlay through OTA for some F48 but no one appears to fully understand their criteria and various reasons are given by different agents. In brief, your F48 factory build must have Nav plus (S6UPA) due to larger CID, It must have connected drive services S6AKA, it must also have at least one of a few other available options (believe 6NH, 6NW, 6WD) which essentially included a WiFi/WLAN antenna.

Here it may be the case that if the hardware (WiFi antenna, extended Bluetooth, etc) was not in the factory build then the BMW OTA system will not allow CarPlay. It is also possible that an X1 built up to around mid 2017 (when CarPlay was not a subscription service) had different software configuration to later build. With a subscription based service one assumes BMW moved/are moving to an X1 build which is “CarPlay OTA ready” and it is possible some cars missed out during transition period. You can order a 2019 F48 with a “Carplay ready” option, which gives a 3 year subscription.

For the X1 & X2 , BMW have been clever in calling some functions and features the same or similar names to more expensive models (like the Xdrive which is not the same system as found in X3, X5 etc). Active Cruise Control is another example, using radar (or two KAFAS) in expensive models but relying on the single KAFAS camera alone in the X1. In the F48 the idrive software may look like new NBT evo (ID5/id6) found on other models but apparently it is not. It is ENTRYNAV - and the name tells the story.

*- Russia, Taiwan,China & Japan Have S609a (tall) professional headunit, so non ENTRYNAV . Not sure if option or std.

Last edited by MJE60; 02-22-2019 at 05:32 AM..
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